Badiaa Masabni, a true wonder woman of her day, was a dancer, singer, actress, and entrepreneur.  This quadruple threat was born in 1892 to a Lebanese father and a Syrian mother in Beirut, and was a pioneer in Arabic Dance’s evolution as a performance art.  

In 1926, Badiaa opened up Egypt’s first music hall in Cairo.  The nightclub was called “Opera Casino” and offered a variety of entertainment to attract both European and Middle Eastern audiences.   Baidiaa also offered a 6 o’clock show for only women that was packed every night.  Badiaa hired artists from Egypt, but also from Sudan and Europe.  Her choreographers came from out of the country and her stage shows had a strong foreign influence.  It was this fusion of multiculturalism that gave today’s Raqs al Sharqui (Dance of the East) its’ glamorous stage-show start.  It was on Badiaa’s stage that stars such as Samia Gamal, Tahiya Karioka, and Naima Akef were born. 

In addition to taking Arabic Dance to the stage, Badiaa Masabni influenced the style of the dance as a performance art.  Originally performers would stand in one spot, and the upper body and arms did not play a particular role in the movement.  Badiaa incorporated the Western idea of traveling around the entire stage and exploring the use of space. She encouraged dancers not only to hold their arms out to the sides, but also to use serpentine, flowing patterns of arm movement.  Badiaa introduced the use of the veil and taught choreography to traditionally improvisational dancers. 

Badiaa also had a strong understanding of Middle Eastern music.  She loved to play finger cymbals and would sit with the band to play for the dancers in her nightclub.  This led to the now common ritual of hiring a musician dedicated to playing just zils as part of the ensemble.  Badiaa also hired classically trained musicians to join the traditional line-up of riqq (tambourine), zurna (winded instrument), and tabla (Egyptian drum) players.   The taqsim (improvisational solo) could be explored and more intricate rhythms we’re introduced to the dancers at her club.

Badiaa Masabni passed away in 1970.  She was a true feminine character with the strength of Superman and the allure of a beautiful woman.  Her innovative and artistic eye was well paired with her business-smart intuition.  Badiaa’s influence brought Arabic Dance to the stage and her impact on the style of Raqs al Sharqui is seen today worldwide. Badiaa Masabni will forever remain a pioneer in this performance art that will be embraced for years to come.

Ziva Emtiyaz loves being inspired by the Wonder Women of the world.  Explore your inner and outer strength on the dance floor with Ziva in Arabic Dance II, Shimmy Pop, and Shimmy Pop Toning at Hipline.  Reach out to Ziva at ziva@myhipline.com and www.zivadancer.com .

Works Sited

Badia Masabni. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2013, from 
     http://www.belly-dance.org/badia-masabni.html 

Buonaventura, W. (2010). Serpent of the Nile. Northampton, MA: Interlink. 

Richards, T. (Ed.). (2000). The Belly Dance Book. Concord, CA: Backbeat.

They say the heart is fickle.  If you really love someone, you will feel it in your gut.  In the West, we often think of the heart as the body’s center of romance.  In several Middle Eastern countries, it is the liver that is believed to be passion’s organ.  The Roman physician Galen developed the notion that the heart and the liver are sources of love over 1,000 years ago.   One of the first great Arab-Muslim scientists, Al Razi, perpetuated Galen’s theory about the liver, and it spread across the Middle East into Egypt.

The Arabic word for liver is pronounced “kabed”.  It is frequently used in Egyptian poetry and song lyrics to express love.  The classic song “Eina Ellayali” shares a good example of how the liver embodies emotion.  Translated into English, the lyrics say, “An eye’s glance sent a spear to my liver and created pain.” 

Often you will see a performing Egyptian dancer gesture her hands as if she were holding onto her liver. She is expressing that she feels the song or the lyrics from this organ of passion.  It’s just as if an American dancer were to hold onto her heart.

In this month of love, why not dance from your liver ladies?  Share your deepest passions on the dance floor and feel it from you gut.  Tap in, and be moved.  What is your “kabed” telling you today?

Ziva holds Arabic Dance in her liver and can’t wait to share her passion for the art form with you!  Join her on the dance floor in Shimmy Pop, Shimmy Pop Toning, and Arabic Dance II.  You can find out more about Ziva and Arabic Dance at www.zivadancer.com 

Resources:  http://suite101.com/article/valentines-could-easily-have-been-livers-instead-of-hearts-a330899